The conditioning of sports clubs is one of the applications that are characterized by several criteria that must be achieved to reach the best air conditioning and ventilation system
First: conditioning
1- Calculation of hvac of sports clubs
When calculating the cooling load in the air conditioning of sports clubs, each space differs from each other in terms of the type of activity, the number of people, the heat load generated by existing devices, if any, the size of the glass walls, the temperatures required to achieve that activity, the percentage of air humidity, the percentage of fresh air specified for each individual in the place, etc. and all these criteria are shown in the tables in the code (ASHRAE)
Sports clubs are also characterized by high physical activity, which negatively affects air quality and purity
2- Grills and distribution in the hvac of sports clubs
When distributing the air outlets “greels", the seating and presence of people on sports equipment should be taken into account so that the cold air is not directed directly at them, and most of the exits are in the corridors and between the devices, so when designing, the mattress scheme for the sports club should be requested to achieve this
3- The best system in the hvac of sports clubs
Therefore, when conditioning sports clubs, it is preferable to use fresh air handling units (FAHU) to make sure that the air is changed completely and continuously, which raises the level of air quality and purity around the clock, but it is expensive and high in electricity consumption
The rest of the systems work well for various applications such as hidden conditioning or central air conditioning or air conditioning VRF but it largely depends on the choice of the most suitable system for each region, depending on the division and nature of the place.
4- The “thermostat " in hvac of sports clubs
When locating the thermostats that control the air conditioners, it is preferable to place them in a high place or a closed box can be installed on them, so as not to leave them to be tampered with by the students present, so that they are calibrated at an average temperature that suits everyone, and in some cases they are assembled in one place (control room) or a centralized control system is
It is preferable to install air curtains at the entrances and exits to reduce the ingress of hot air inside the building, which can negatively affect the cooling efficiency, they can also be added in places with a special smell (swimming pools, massage rooms .. Etc.) Also to reduce the mixing of those odors with the rest of the building
It is not preferable to add cold air outlets to bathrooms, shower rooms or corridors leading to them for their effect on individuals after bathing, and the air can be softened with air suction fans only that work on the process of replenishing the existing air
5- Air freshening inside the hvac systems of sports clubs
Some air fresheners can be installed in air conditioning units and an operating system is made at a time to ensure that a good smell of the place is maintained regularly and automatically
6- Maintenance
Periodic Maintenance of air conditioning and filters to reduce bacteria and unpleasant odors accumulated on them and to maintain cooling efficiency
Second: ventilation
As stated in the universal code (ASHRAE) about the standards ventilation for gyms with high physical activity
The air regeneration process comes at the head of these standards, where the air must be changed up to 10:6 times per hour (Air change rate ACH)
This is done within the framework of protecting individuals from infection and reducing bacteria resulting from existing physical activity, and also to maintain a good smell of the place.
These standards are also applied in changing rooms and toilets
7- Proper humidity when conditioning sports clubs
There are some areas in sports clubs, such as swimming pools, the emphasis is on achieving the humidity ratios specified by the universal code (ASHRAE), which provides for 50% Relative humidity
This is done in several ways, including natural methods (ventilation holes in walls, windows ...etc.) or mechanical methods (push and suction fans, moisture extraction devices ...etc.)
The choice of method depends on the nature of the place and its geographical location, as the percentage of air humidity varies from city to city
For example: in the city of “Jeddah” the humidity is high, as it reaches 80% Relative humidity, in addition to the humidity resulting from the pools, the humidity is high, and it is difficult to use natural methods in this case, so the matter must be handled mechanically
Such as humidifiers, including " separate devices, others integrated with air conditioning or adding fans to push the air (Fresh Air Fan) with low humidity (dry air) and other air suction fans (Exhaust Air Fan) to equalize the ratio “
In the case of areas with low humidity percentages, such as the city of “Riyadh", which reaches 20%, Here natural methods can be used to reduce humidity by swimming pools or mechanical
